Syria's President Bashar al-Assad heads the plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling al-Baath party, in Damascus in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency.Credit: Reuters

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said any repercussions if the United States targets Syria with military strikes "may take different forms," including "direct and indirect" effects.

Speaking in an interview with CBS News that aired on Monday, Assad said that in addition to direct responses, indirect impacts could include "instability and the spread of terrorism all over the region that will influence the West directly."

"We have to expect the worst," Assad added in the interview.

Assad, who said Syria opposes the use of chemical weapons, also said that any strikes would boost the al Qaeda offshoot in his country: "It's going to be direct support."